July 8, 2014 – Beak, the Chicago post-metal quartet who wowed critics with their 2012 debut EP, Eyrie, return with their first full-length,Let Time Begin, on Sept. 23 via Someoddpilot Records.

“Let Time Begin is the Big Bang, The Fall of Man, The Unnamable; it’s our interpretation of the origins of the Universe,” says Beak singer/guitar player Jon Slusher. The eight-song album moves from chaos to the birth of consciousness. “It is a concept record that evolves sonically from Eyrie with more concise composition and a new pallet of alternating violence, tranquility and melody. We ramped up the primal and pounding rhythm section, we’ve appropriated vocoding into the mix and we have pioneered new ways to tear out our throats.”

Beak’s debut EP, Eyrie, received widespread recognition, with the Boston Phoenix saying: “all sorts of post-metal power not heard of since the battle flag of Neurosis was picked up by Boston natives Isis and later Cult of Luna” and The Sludgelord saying “this is one of the best post-metal releases I have heard since ISIS’ landmark classic – Oceanic and VYGR’s Hypersleep.” Spin said the “Chicago post-metal party crashers have songwriting acumen and hardcore bent that 2006’s Neur-Isis copycats sorely lack.”

Let Time Begin was recorded at Steve Albini’s Electrical Audio Studio and John McEntire’s (Tortoise, The Sea and The Cake) Soma Studios, both in Chicago. The band self-produced the new release.

Chicago Psychedelic Doom Rock conjurors and recent Metal Blade signees, MOUNT SALEM, will embark on a full headlining tour this May! The trek will pillage its way through select cities between Chicago and Los Angeles, and includes one-off shows in New Mexico and Arizona opening up for doom legends, Saint Vitus! MOUNT SALEM will be touring in support of their EndlessEP.

Mega blog, Loudwire.com, recently featured an interview with vocalist/organist Emily Kopplin as part of their “Vital Vinyl” column. The column highlights Endless’ striking cover art, the band’s proclivity for vinyl, and more. Check out the entire interview and photos at THIS LOCATION.

MOUNT SALEM

5/01/2014 Township – Chicago, IL

5/02/2014 Dragonfly Lounge – Madison, WI

5/03/2014 JB’s Speakeasy – La Crosse, WI

5/04/2014 Chesterfield – Sioux City, IA

5/05/2014 The Bourbon – Lincoln, NE

5/06/2014 Larimer Lounge – Denver, CO w/ Speedwolf

5/08/2014 Launch Pad – Albuquerque, NM w/ Saint Vitus, Sons Of Huns

5/09/2014 Club Red – Tempe, AZ w/ Saint Vitus, Sons Of Huns

5/10/2014 TBA – Los Angeles, CA

5/11/2014 The Makeout Room – San Francisco, CA

5/12/2014 Witch Room – Sacramento, CA

5/13/2014 Slabtown – Portland, OR

5/15/2014 The Shred Shed – Salt Lake City, UT

5/16/2014 Future Shock – Frisco, CO

5/17/2014 Kung Fu Tap And Taco – Des Moines, IA

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MOUNT SALEM is a four-piece psychedelic rock/doom metal band. They started writing music together in the summer of 2012 and released their first debut EP, Endless, in the Spring of 2013. Taking influence from the likes of Black Sabbath and Pentagram, MOUNT SALEM play loud, heavy rock ‘n’ roll using all vintage gear. Throwing their own twist of dark, mysterious doom into their summonings, MOUNT SALEM systematically pull listeners into their sinister realm of sound; their lyrical imagery serving as a ride all its own. Metal Blade Records signed the band in the Summer of 2013 and recently released an extended version of Endless containing two additional, brand-new tracks.

Critical Praise:

“Debut album, Endless, is an absolute monolith of a record that combines the sludgy, droning guitars of Iommi’s finest vintage with Emily’s shimmering vocals and epic Jon Lord-style organ rushes. It’s retro, yes, but it also sounds too exciting to be dismissed as simply revisionism.” – Metal Hammer